Bernie Glassman

Bernie Glassman was born to Jewish immigrants in Brighton Beach,[1] Brooklyn, New York in 1939.[2] He attended university at the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute and received a degree in engineering. Following graduation he moved to California to work as an aeronautical engineer at McDonnell-Douglas. He then received his Ph.D. in applied mathematics from the University of California, Los Angeles.[3]

Glassman first encountered Zen when he was assigned Huston Smith's The Religions of Man for an English class in 1958.[4] From there, he continued reading including books by Alan Watts, Christmas Humphreys, and D.T. Suzuki.[4] In the early 1960s, Glassman began meditating[4] and soon after sought a local Zen teacher.[4] He found Taizan Maezumi in Los Angeles, California[4] and Glassman became one of the original founding members of the Zen Center of Los Angeles. He received Dharma transmission in 1976 from Maezumi and then inka in 1995 shortly before Maezumi's death.[2]

In 1980, he founded the Zen Community of New York. In 1982[5] Glassman opened Greyston Bakery in Yonkers, New York, which initially provided jobs for the Zen students and evolved into an effort to help alleviate the widespread homelessness in the area.[6] The bakery provided jobs for inner city residents who lacked education and skills.[6] Greyston employed low-skilled workers from the neighborhood, many of whom were homeless themselves, and sold baked goods to shops and restaurants in Manhattan. In 1989 Glassman entered an agreement with Ben & Jerry's, and Greyston Bakery has become the supplier of brownies for several lines of ice cream.[7]

Through the success of his bakery–which in 2016 was earning $12 million in revenues–Glassman founded the Greyston Foundation (sometimes called Greyston Mandala) with his wife Sandra Jishu Holmes in 1989. He retired from the Greyston Foundation in 1996 to pursue socially engaged Buddhist projects through the Zen Peacemakers.[8] As of 2004 the Foundation had developed $35 million worth in real estate development projects in Westchester County, New York. The Foundation offers HIV/AIDS programs, provides job training and housing, child care services, educational opportunities, and other endeavors.[6] In 2003 the bakery moved to a new building, which allows for higher output and more employment opportunities.[7][9]

In 1996 Glassman, with his wife Sandra Jishu Holmes, founded the Zen Peacemaker Order. According to professor Christopher S. Queen, "The order is based on three principles: plunging into the unknown, bearing witness to the pain and joy of the world, and a commitment to heal oneself and the world."[1] Richard Hughes Seager writes, "The Zen Peacemaker Order...has the potential to rival Thich Nhat Hanh's groups and the Buddhist Peace Fellowship as a force in American activism."[10]

Glassman died on November 4, 2018 from complications of a stroke in Springfield, Massachusetts at the age of 79.[11]

Bernie Glassman with Elihu Genmyo Smith

Glassman taught about what his teacher, the late Taizan Maezumi, called the "unknowing." Not-knowing is the first tenet of the Zen Peacemakers, and Glassman said of it, "In Zen the words source and essence are the equivalent of Unknowing, and they come up again and again. We have the absolute and the relative perspectives about life, and Unknowing is the one source of both of these."[1] Also, Glassman was known for his many "street retreats." Author James Ishmael Ford writes, "...'street retreats,' for instance, moves sesshin into the streets: participants eat in soup kitchens, and, if they know they're not displacing homeless people, sleep in homeless shelters or, otherwise, sleep in public places. Zazen takes place in parks."[2] In the 2000s, Glassman developed an experiment in sociocratic consensus-based zen training and interfaith facilitation, known initially as Peacemaker Circle International[12], and later Zen Peacemaker Circles. Interconnected projects were established globally[13], replacing the role of 'Zen teacher' with participants learning from each other and sharing ideas between Circles.[14] In his last years, having disrobed from the priesthood, Glassman together with his wife Eve Marko continued the work of his teacher Koryu Osaka Roshi[15] in developing lay forms of Zen practice.

Zen Center of Los Angeles

Bernie Glassman appointed several "senseis"[16] and "roshis" in traditional zen, and established the non-hierarchical roles of 'Steward' and 'Circle Dharmaholder' as coordinators and visionholders to continue the Zen Peacemaker Circles model. A number of his successors have also given dharma transmission to some of their own students:[16][17]

1. Ancheta, Alfred Jitsudo Roshi
   1. Arbiter, Eric Kishin Sensei[18]
   2. Bruce-Fritz, Carol Myoshin Sensei[19]
   3. Elkin, Rick Issan Sensei
   4. Fritz, Ralph Kendo Sensei[20]
   5. Helzer, Douglas Red Heart Sensei
   6. Whalen, Thomas Zenho Sensei
   7. Walter, Sydney Musai Roshi
2. Baker, Nancy Mujo
3. Barragato, Stefano Mui (b. 1930)
   1. Barragato, Margaret Ne-Eka
      1. Wohl, Peter Seishin Sensei
   2. Paquin, Linda-Lee Abhaya
4. Byalin, Kenneth (Ken) Tetsuji Sensei
5. Gauntt, Grover Genro Sensei
6. Halifax, Joan Jiko Roshi
   1. Kazniak, Al Genkai Sensei
   2. Beate Stolte Sensei[21]
   3. Kaigetsu Irene Bakker Sensei[22]
   4. José Shinzan Palma Sensei [23]
   5. Joshin Brian Byrnes Sensei[24]
   6. Genzan Quennell Sensei[25]
7. Krajewski, Andrzej Getsugen Roshi
8. Harkaspi, Helen Kobai Yuho
9. Hixon, Lex Jikai (1941-1995)
10. Hixon, Sheila Jinen Sensei
11. Holmes, Sandra Jishu Angyo (1941-1998)
12. Kahn, Paul Kuzan Genki Roshi
13. Kennedy, Robert E. Jinsen S.J. Roshi (b. 1933-)[26]
    1. Abels, Gregory Hosho Sensei
    2. Abels, Janet Jiryu Roshi[27]
    3. Bachman, Carl Genjo Sensei
    4. Birx, Charles Shinkai Sensei (b. 1944)
       1. Thompson, Scott H. (b. 1948) Dharma Holder (Assistant teacher)
    5. Birx, Ellen Jikai Sensei (b. 1950)
    6. Cicetti, Raymond Ryuzan Sensei (b. 1950)
    7. Eastman, Patrick Kundo Roshi[28]
       1. Averbeck, Marcus Hozan Sensei
       2. Collingwood, Chris Ryushin Sensei
       3. Woodcock, Jeremy Ryokan Sensei
    8. Hunt, Kevin Jiun (b. 1933-), O.C.S.O (Order of Cistercians of the Strict Order)
    9. Richardson, Janet Jinne, csjp Roshi
       1. Blackman, Bruce Seiryu Sensei (b. 1942)[29]
       2. Craig, Barbara Shoshin, RSM Sensei [Religious Sisters of Mercy] (b. 1932)
       3. Dougherty, Rose Mary Myoan Sensei[30][29]
       4. McQuaide, Rosalie Jishin, csjp Sensei
14. Lee, Robert Sokan Sensei
15. Lugovina, Francisco Genkoji "Paco" Sensei
    1. williams, angel Kyodo Sensei
    2. Nelson, Craig Daiken Sensei
    3. Salazar, Joaquin Ryusho Sensei
16. Matthiessen, Peter Muryo Roshi (May 22, 1927 – April 5, 2014)
    1. Bastis, Madeline Ko-i Sensei
       1. Cantor, Mitchell Doshin Sensei
          1. May, Wilbur Mushin Sensei
    2. Dobbs, Michel Engu Sensei
    3. Friedman, Dorothy Dai-en (Daien) Sensei
17. Marko, Eve Myonen
18. Maull, Fleet Shinryu Sensei
19. Nakao, Wendy Lou Egyoku Roshi
    1. Berge, Raul Ensho, Dharma Holder (2006)
    2. Boyd, Merle Kodo Plum Dragon Sensei
    3. Hawley, Kipp Ryodo Sensei
    4. Janka, Gary Myogen Koan Sensei
20. Nordstrom, Louis Mitsunen Roshi (b. 1943)
    1. Denton, Timothy Issai Sensei
    2. Hawkins, Roger Sensei
    3. Thompson, Phil Zenkai Sensei
21. O'Hara, Pat Enkyo Roshi
    1. Eiger, Randall Ryotan
    2. Harris, Jules Shuzen
       1. Rapaport, Al Tendo Fusho[31]
          1. Linda Myoki Lehrhaupt[32]
    3. Hondorp, Catherine Anraku Eishun
    4. O'Hara, Barbara Joshin Sensei
    5. Terestman, Julie Myoko Kirin Sensei
    6. Thomson, Sinclair Shinryu
22. Saunders, Seisen[33]
    1. Deer, Herb Eko[33]
    2. Wild, Sara Kokyo[34]
23. Wegmueller, Barbara Salaam Roshi
24. Wegmueller, Roland Yakushi Roshi

Circle Zen Dharmaholders:

1. Margueritte Gregory
   1. Jeana Moore
2. Barbara Wegmueller
   1. Gabriele Blankertz
   2. Chris Starbuck
      1. Geoff Taylor and the Western Massachusetts Circle
      2. Frances Collins
   3. Steve Hart
   4. Franziska Schneider
   5. Kathleen Battke
3. Roland Wegmueller

• Bridges, Jeff; Glassman, Bernie (2013). The Dude and the Zen Master. Blue Rider Press. ISBN 978-0399161643.
• Maezumi, Taizan; Glassman, Bernie (2007). The Hazy Moon of Enlightenment: Part of the On Zen Practice Series. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 978-0-86171-314-1. OCLC 73742251.
• Glassman, Bernie (2002). Infinite Circle: Teachings in Zen. Shambhala Publications. ISBN 1-57062-591-3.
• Maezumi, Taizan; Glassman, Bernie (2002). On Zen Practice: Body, Breath, Mind. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 0-86171-315-X. OCLC 49822921.
• Glassman, Bernie (1998). Bearing Witness: A Zen Master's Lessons in Making Peace. Bell Tower. ISBN 0-609-80391-3.
• Glassman, Bernard; Fields, Rick (1996). Instructions to the Cook: A Zen Master's Lessons in Living a Life That Matters. Bell Tower. ISBN 0-517-88829-7.

• 1991 Best of America Award for Social Action, U.S. News & World Report
• Ethics in Action Award, Ethical Culture Society of Westchester
• E-chievement Award, E-Town, Tom’s of Maine
• Man of the Year, Westchester Coalition of Food Pantries
• 2016 Babson College Lewis Institute Social Innovator Award

• The Temple of Understanding
• White Plum Asanga
• AIDS Interfaith National Network
• Social Venture Network
• Westchester Interfaith Housing Corp.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bernard Glassman.

• Zen Peacemakers
• www.greyston.org/
• www.greystonbakery.com/
• Peacemaker Circles International
• Shambhala Sun interview with Roshi Bernie
• Zen Center of Los Angeles
• White Plum Asanga
• Videos about Zen Peacemakers and Bernie Glassman
• Audio Interview Series on Buddhist Geeks